Grandma's Kitchen: 5 Natural Flu Remedies

Have you been taken out “yet” by the demon menace, the FLU?

You just may be able to tap dance around it, or avoid or minimize the horrors of it entirely by choosing a natural path. Before penicillin and flu shots, our grandmother who lived to be 92 (and also was famous for saying, “That exercise is going to kill you!” –we forgave her for that) firmly believed that natural was better. 

Evelyn ate garlic every day in some form and in 92 years never suffered a day with the flu.  She was born in 1918, the year of the Spanish Flu Pandemic that killed 50 million people worldwide and went on to live through every other major U.S. flu season without so much as a sniffle. 

Evelyn swore by garlic, both as a spice and a remedy along with apple cider vinegar in warm water and she said, “The proof is in the pudding, I don’t get the flu!”

With all of the sneezing and coughing going on around us, why not try the safety net of herbal cures that might be sitting right in your spice rack?

1.) Garlic – Our great grandmother actually hung her strings of garlic cloves in the kitchen.  It may keep away vampires, but it is also a great remedy for colds and viral infections. Garlic can be taken in capsule form, crushed or roasted. No need to overdo.

2.) Apple Cider Vinegar – Itchy throat or dry hacking coughs? Mix two teaspoons of Bragg’s organic Apple Cider Vinegar with a glass of warm water. This can help with flu symptoms, especially upper respiratory. Apple Cider vinegar also helps remove toxins if used as a regular regime.

3.) Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne Pepper has been known to have properties that aid everything from fatigue to psoriasis.  However, as anyone who regularly imbibes in spicy food can attest, it aids in breaking up and expelling congestion and mucous from the body, which can help relieve flu symptoms.

4.) Turmeric – Turmeric is a rare spice in the Western diet, but it is quite common in Indian food. We like to put a pinch of this natural antiseptic/anti viral into our egg salad.

5.) Ginger – When we were small and had a tummy ache, Evelyn was Johnny on the spot (her words) with a can of Ginger Ale. Who knew that the ginger ale that made us feel better was actually derived from a root that was used for more than 2,000 years to treat the cold, flu, headaches and nausea? Caffeine-free ginger tea might be just the ticket!

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water daily and continue exercising throughout the flu season. Remember the benefits of being adjusted (chiropractic) and regular massage! One final word – If your grandmother tried to wrestle you to the ground to take a spoonful of castor oil – well, she may not have been punishing you, she may have been boosting your immune system!

*The information provided should not be used during a medical emergency or for the treatment of any medical condition.